Travel Q&A: Copenhagen, London, Italy, more

By Staff, The Washington Post

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Q: We want to charter a private boat in the Caribbean this summer. Are there travel companies that specialize in this?

A: My parents often charter sailboats through the Moorings. Depending on your sailing skills, you can bareboat or hire a captain and cook. Itineraries start from various island bases, such as Tortola, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Martin. Horizon Yacht Charters and Sunsail are also well-known companies in the field.

- – Andrea Sachs

Q: I’ll be traveling to Copenhagen over Thanksgiving and would like help with planning.

A: Here are some things to do in Copenhagen and environs: Visit Tivoli Gardens, or Bakken, supposedly the world’s oldest amusement park; Rosenborg Castle and grounds; the Little Mermaid statue; Christiania, the city’s hippie enclave; the National Museum and National Gallery; the Open Air Museum; the Royal Reception Rooms and Stables at Christiansborg Palace; the Botanical Garden; the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde; Kronborg Castle in Elsinore; the Carlsberg brewery; and Frederiksborg Palace in Hillerod. You can go shopping along Stroget, the long pedestrian street in the city center. Nyhavn, the renovated old port area, has lots of great restaurants.

- – Zofia Smardz

Q: I want to go to the Galapagos next year. When is the best season?

A: The Galapagos are a year-round destination. Peak season is from June through early September and over the winter holidays. The park sets limits on the number of visitors to protect the ecosystem, so boats fill up fast. The park also rotates islands to give the critters a break from tourists. If you have your heart set on specific islands, check cruise itineraries to be sure the boat includes those stops. The Galapagos Conservancy is a great source of info.

- – Andrea Sachs

Q: My husband and I are in our 20s and will be visiting relatives in Orlando for Christmas. We’d like to spend one day at Disney World or Universal Studios. Which park do you recommend?

A: My typical answer for anyone with just one day is to do the Magic Kingdom, because it’s the quintessential Disney experience. It’s nicely decorated for the holidays, and if you stay into the evening, it feels — yes — magical, especially when they make it “snow.” Epcot also has great holiday decorations, and you can find international flair throughout the World Showcase.

- – Becky Krystal

Q: My husband and I are planning our first trip to Italy in early March. After Rome and Florence, we’d like to splurge for one night on the coast or in the countryside. What town and/or accommodations would you suggest?

A: You might try something in the Maremma region, which is popular among Italians in the know but still rather undiscovered by tourists. The beaches are beautiful and unspoiled. You could stay in a lovely old villa such as Villa Bengodi in Fonteblanda, or there are many great boutique hotels. There’s also the Cinque Terre, five beautiful coastal villages that have come roaring back after some awful floods a couple of years ago.

- – Zofia Smardz

Q: We’re looking to make our first trip with our 16-month-old in January, hoping for something beachy. Can you suggest any areas that will be warm enough?

A: If you’re limited on time, look for a nonstop flight, such as to Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Tampa. From Tampa, you can cross the bridge to St. Petersburg, which has lovely white-sand beaches. AirTran and US Airways also fly nonstop to Nassau in the Bahamas, and the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island makes kids and adults alike squeal.

If you have more time, I recommend Puerto Rico. You can stay in Old San Juan or venture west to smaller beach towns.

- – Andrea Sachs

Q: My husband and I will be in London on New Year’s Eve and Day. Any ideas of what goes on?

A: According to the London tourism site, there are fireworks over the Thames, a New Year’s Day parade and a Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. I think it would be so cool to ice-skate at the Tower of London.

- – Becky Krystal

Q: My husband and I are going to Scottsdale for a wedding and will have three days to ourselves. We’d love to do outdoor activities and see great scenery. Should we stick to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area or move around? We were thinking about Sedona.

A: Sedona’s beautiful and a good idea. It’s about two hours from Scottsdale. But what about the Grand Canyon, too? It’s only three hours or so away, and you have three days.

- – Zofia Smardz

Q: I’m coming to D.C. and was planning to do some hiking. Any ideas on good hiking spots that will be open? I need a hotel recommendation, too, something midrange.

A: I really like Sky Meadows State Park near Paris, Va. The Ashby Inn is lovely and adjacent to the park; rooms start at $165 weekdays. There are chain hotel options in nearby Front Royal, as well as the charming Lackawanna Bed & Breakfast. There are plenty of choices in and around Winchester, too. I’d look into the George Washington.

- – Becky Krystal

Q: I want to use my Delta frequent-flier miles in 2014. We’ve accrued 90,000-plus miles, which should earn us three round-trip domestic tickets at the green Saver Award level. Yet when I select dates in that category, I end up with the yellow Standard Award miles level. Am I missing something?

A: Delta’s lower-level awards, I’m told, are based on inventory that would otherwise go unsold. Its next level up — the level you’re stuck at — is based on tickets with an actual dollar value. Availability depends on supply and demand, so if you’re not seeing any tickets at the 25,000 level, it probably means that they’ve all been claimed.

- – Christopher Elliott

Q: My husband and I are taking his 81-year-old parents to Hawaii in February. Which island is accessible for those with mobility limitations?

A: Oahu would offer the best options for your parents to get around, especially on foot.